Shocking news story which I learned about in January 2001 - tremendous thanks to Larry Borchert who transcribed this from a poor quality microfilm:
YOUNG WIFE KILLED ACCIDENTALLY BY OWN HAND
Mrs. Albert Oakey dies from revolver shot on Fourth of July
Coroner’s Jury Brings in Verdict of Accidental Death by Her Own Hand--Husband Tells Story.
While handling a revolver on the morning of the Fourth of July, Mrs. Sylvia Oakey, the young wife of Albert Oakey, accidentally shot and killed herself in the chamber of their home, 30 North Mills street. Her husband stood only a few feet away, and at first he did not realize what had happened when she fell to the floor. The real nature of the terrible event was soon brought home to him when he noticed powder marks on her waist and she had lapsed into unconsciousness and failed to answer his frantic call to speak to him. The victim was 21 years old.
The circumstances of the tragedy led the authorities to conduct a rigid inquiry, and the husband was closely questioned Monday morning by Coroner Lynch, Chief Shaughnessy and Detective Floyd. They became convinced at its close that the tragedy was accidental and the coroner’s jury which sat at the inquest this morning came to the same decision. The officers worked upon the possible theory that Oakey had shot her accidentally, but came to the conclusion that she handled the gun herself. The coroner’s jury which sat at the inquest this morning came to the same conclusion. They decided death was accidental, by the victim’s own hand.
INQUIRY IS SEARCHING
Coroner Lynch conducted a most careful inquiry into all the details of the accident, especially as to the story as related by Oakey. For an hour the young man--he is only 22-- answered questions directed at every phase of the accident and gave ready answers to all questions. His story was well connected and apparently very reasonable. When he came to that point in the inquiry where he had to relate the scene following the shooting he had difficulty in controlling his emotions, and his words indicated that he was greatly devoted to her, and she to him.
Oakey said he came to Madison to live two years ago from Ashland. His father, Albert Oakey, died last September. He is a mason in the employ of William Oakey, a relative. The couple were married June 20, 1908. The wife’s name was Sylvia Dunston.
He bought the revolver, a 32-calibre, at the F. W. Huels store, 115 State street, three weeks ago. He told the jury the reason he bought it was to satisfy his wife who desired it for protection in case of emergency. He said that shortly before, and intruder has entered the house in the nighttime and that she became greatly frightened. Then she asked that he buy a revolver.
PLANNED PICINIC PARTY
On Sunday morning he arose at 6:30 o’clock and went to the home of a neighbor, George Bolson, 758 West Washington avenue. Oakey and his wife had planned to go to Esther Beach to spend the day. The Bolsons advised Oakey to go with them in their rowboat to Lake Wingra and Vilas park. Oakey telephoned his wife to that effect and when he returned home he told of their invitation and she agreed to the change without any words. In fact, he testified, there had been no disagreement of any kind. When Oakey went to the Bolson home he took with him his revolver. Previously he had shot it off twice. There were three more loaded shells. Before he returned he shot off two more.
Returning home he told his wife of the new plans for recreation for the day and she prepared their lunch, laying it on the sitting room table. Oakey ate breakfast and when he had finished went to the kitchen to wash. Then he went to the bedroom for a towel. His wife, who had followed him in, handed him a towel. He wiped his face, threw down the towel, and was about to return to something else when he heard a report. He saw her throw both arms above her and fall to the floor.
HUSBAND BECOMES FRANTIC
What’s the matter, Sylvia, were his first words.
There was no answer: She only groaned, he said.
He ran to the telephone but was so frantic he could not find the number of the hospital, which was his first thought, nor of any doctor. So he went to the door and hailed a passerby who chanced to be William Brennan, 1210 West Washington avenue. They went into the house.
Mr. Oakey was in a very frantic state of mind and couldn’t express himself very coherently, said Brennan. He said he had tried to telephone and could not get anybody.
Brennan himself then telephoned for Dr. J. C. Sommers, who came immediately. Dr. Sommers found her dead and at once notified the coroner. Coroner Lynch and Chief Shaughnessy then went to the house and made observations and conducted inquires of Brennan and Oakey.
GUNS FALLS FROM BED
Chief Shaughnessy pulled off a blanket from the bed to use as a cover for the body and the revolver dropped off on the floor, where it had fallen when it left her grasp. The most likely explanation of the accident is that Mrs. Oakey had taken up the gun and with the barrel facing her, had used both hands in the effort to pull back the hammer, with the workings of which she was not very familiar. The one loaded shell left in the revolver exploded, and the bullet penetrated her chest between the third and forth ribs. Dr. W. W. Gill testified that the bullet took this course, going through the heart, into the lung and down through the posterior wall of the chest cavity. An autopsy was held at Schroeder’s undertaking establishment by Dr. Gill and Dr. Sommers, at which the above results were learned. Dr. Sommers took the stand and corroborated Dr. Gill’s testimony, which was largely technical.
Chief Shaughnessy testified to the condition of the room when he arrived and gave other facts. The vicim was laying on the floor, dead, when he entered. William Brennan said that Oakey called him saying:
Won’t you come in and help me--a lady’s shot. He followed Oakey into the bedroom and saw Oakey holding his wife in his arms and trying to get her to speak to him. She was breathing but not able to speak. She died a few minutes afterwards. He told Brennan she had had a revolver.
HAD INSTRUCTED WIFE.
Oakey testified that the gun had been kept on the trunk near the bed and that it was not loaded, but that the shells were kept near for instant loading if occasion demanded. He said he had instructed his wife how to use it and that she had never discharged it. She had trouble in reversing the hammer. He said she had been her pull back the hammer but she did not pull the trigger: he did that for her.
The jurors at the inquest were M. D. Fethers. J. H. Kernan, John J. Jennings, G. F. Biederstaedt, E. F. Baillie and E. H VerHalen.
The funeral will be held from the home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
The funeral of Mrs. Albert Oakey was held this afternoon from the home, the Rev. C. L. Clifford officiating. The pallbearers were Robert Rapp, Elmo Cooper, Rhet Cooper, Harry E. Langley, Carl Taubert and Frederick Schleicher.
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